As Middlebrooks left dugout and entered tunnel into clubhouse, he was heard screaming an expletive that can easily be guessed at #Redsox

The wrist injury was last August 10. While I wouldn't want to rush to judgment until we hear a diagnosis, the bottom line is there's a really short list when it comes to 3B depth:

Pedro Ciriaco - 37 career MLB games at 3B out of 107 total (35 last year w. BOS), plus 4 of 815 total in the minors (3 last year with the PawSox). On 40-man roster.

Mauro Gomez - 9 of 25 MLB games at 3B (all last year w. BOS), plus 79 of 812 total in the minors (8 last year w. PawSox). On 40-man roster.

Drew Sutton - 22 career MLB games at 3B out of 128 total (11 last year w. TBR, 8 in 2011 w. BOS), plus 154 of 811 total in the minors (7 last year w. PIT/ARL systems, 9 w. PawSox in 2011). Not on 40-man roster.

Justin Henry - Has never played in majors. 60 career games at 3B out of 667 total (37 last year w. AAA Toledo). Not on 40-man roster.

Brock Holt - On 40-man roster. Has never played 3B as a pro.

Looks like it would be Ciriaco by default. Gomez would be an utter disaster there.

I'm hoping this doesn't evolve into a "Should Bogaerts get a shot??" debate, considering he's never played the position prior to this spring, and further considering he's still a prospect who's never faced the type of breaking balls he'll be seeing in AAA, let alone the majors.

The 3rd base FA market was terrible this offseason and it certainly isn't any better this late. If he really is injured, I would think a trade for a stop gap (if it's going to be any serious length of time) would be the best option

I'm convinced they're being intentionally obtuse as to the exact nature of the injury and its severity. This "explanation" doesn't really jibe with the reactions reported above. Can anyone who saw the check swing chime in?

Dislocation of ECU Tendon - recurrent subluxation of ECU tendon is characterized by painful "snap" over ulnodorsal aspect of wrist, particularly on forearm rotation; - ECU retinaculum can rupture and the tendon can leave its sheath; - this condition may be confused w/ recurrent subluxation of distal radioulnar joint; - on supination w/ wrist-ulnar deviation, tendon displaces (leaves its sheath), often w/ audible snap, when moved in the ulnar and palmar directions; - on pronation, it relocates into its normal sulcus; - closed treatment by immobilization w/ forearm in pronation & wrist in radial deviation may be appropriate

If the massive improvement in ability to drive the ball is real, then that was my thought as well. I wonder if Drew would do it willingly, and while any sign of life out of Iglesias is obviously great news, I still remember the spring in which Darren Lewis hit 7 HRs and Jimy Williams left him in to hit at a crucial point on opening day where a sacrifice fly would have won the game.

If the massive improvement in ability to drive the ball is real, then that was my thought as well. I wonder if Drew would do it willingly, and while any sign of life out of Iglesias is obviously great news, I still remember the spring in which Darren Lewis hit 7 HRs and Jimy Williams left him in to hit at a crucial point on opening day where a sacrifice fly would have won the game.

I'm still pissed about that game.

I also had the Drew/Iglesias thought but that sucks for a guy on a make good contract and I would have to see a hell of a lot more out of Iglesias.

The thought of Napoli, Ortiz, and Middlebrooks all on the shelf on opening day is sickening. They have little to no depth at the corners, so losing one of those guys, never mind two, for an extended amount of time, would be devestating. None of these replacement options are good; most are downright awful. Hope for the best. I guess short term you would go with Ciriaco or Holt?

I'm hoping this doesn't evolve into a "Should Bogaerts get a shot??" debate, considering he's never played the position prior to this spring, and further considering he's still a prospect who's never faced the type of breaking balls he'll be seeing in AAA, let alone the majors.

The only shot Iglesias needs is one that has PEDs in it. He will likely never be able to hit at the ML level. He has barely hit in the minors.

He has to show more than a few March rockets before I'm ready to contradict you here, but it does need to be pointed out that the guy is still actually quite young, probably too young to make such definitive pronouncements about.

Color me semi-relieved. I hope they're not just whistling in the dark. That expression in the photo looks like something a little worse than "an awkward feeling."

He sure looks a lot better at the plate this spring than I've seen him look in the past couple of years.

I haven't watched but he is off to a good start. And note, that I used the words "likely never be able to hit at the ML level". First, that is awful grammar right there. More to the point, however, I am not ruling out the guy making a leap. Its just that his history with more than a smattering of PAs at any level does not inspire confidence that he is capable of upping his offensive game.

Frankly, I hope I am wrong and the guy develops into an offensive beast. Then Cherrington can trade him away for some middling middle reliever.

I don't see him ever being an offensive beast. But if he can become a solid below average hitter, his glove will make him an overall asset. If he's in Rey Ordonez territory, or worse, which is certainly a possibility, it is a different story.